Aerial view of the area around Thingvellir, Iceland, showing
a fissure zone (in shadow) that is an on-land exposure of the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge. Right of the fissure, the North American Plate is pulling westward
away from the Eurasian Plate (left of fissure). This photograph encompasses the historical
tourist area of Thingvellir, the site of Iceland's first parliament, called the Althing, founded around the year
A.D. 930. Large building (upper center) is a hotel for visitors. (Photograph by Oddur Sigurdsson, National Energy Authority,
Iceland.)